Surface Generation Presents Research Project Results

Surface Generation joined a host of global partners, including The Boeing Company at the SAMPE North America Conference and Exhibition in Charlotte, North Carolina, to present results from the ‘Rapid High Performance Molding (RAPM) for Small Parts’ research program. This was a joint research project between Boeing, DARPA (an agency of the United States Department of Defense) and supply chain partners from around the world.

As part of the multi-year program, the team is evaluating Surface Generation’s patented PtFS system across a range of near-net and net shape aerospace thermoset and thermoset composite processing applications. The interim findings of this analysis are detailed in a paper entitled ‘Development of Scalable Dynamic Control Architectures for Flexible Composites Manufacturing Work Cells’.

Surface Generation supplied the RAPM team with a fully integrated bespoke PtFS clamping, tooling and molding cell capable of producing composite components up to 0.9m by 0.9m. The cell can be reconfigured to produce different parts in minutes and has been tested with multiple configurations including vacuum, resin infusion, press-clave thermoset and thermoplastic composite consolidation. Its substantial part processing data pedigree, coupled with an ability to mix isothermal and cyclic processing, makes it unique in the world of composite processing.

Ben Halford, Surface Generation's CEO, has posted about the presentation here. The company has also published a video, which provides an introduction to the groundbreaking piece of kit that it provided to the RAPM research program.